Repair or Replace Your Windshield the Right Way

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When faced with replacing a windshield, many car owners default to the lowest-price option. But if you take this route and are in a serious accident, your decision could cost you your life.

An incorrectly installed windshield could pop out in an accident, allowing the roof to cave in and crush the car’s occupants. Furthermore, when the front airbags deploy, they exert a tremendous force on the windshield and will blow out one that is not firmly glued in place.

“There are a lot of schlock operators” installing windshields, says Debra Levy, president of the Auto Glass Safety Council, which offers certification for installers. She says using original manufacturer’s glass is a plus, but choosing a good installer is even more important. To find a certified shop, visit Safewindshields.org and type your ZIP code into the box at the top of the page. Certification is valuable because it keeps installers up to date on advances in adhesives and changing automotive designs.

David Beck, one of two technicians at Windshield Express. near Salt Lake City, installs eight windshields a day and has been working in the auto glass business for 18 years. Beck agrees that certification is important and warns that there are many “tailgaters” installers with no brick-and-mortar shop who quickly “slam” windshields into cars with little regard for safety. They don’t handle the windshield correctly, don’t use the proper adhesives and leave the car unsafe for driving and prone to rusting and leaks.

“The thing I wish that drivers knew was that the windshield is the No. 1 safety restraint in your vehicle,” Beck says. The windshield is two sheets of glass held together by an inner layer of strong vinyl. When the windshield breaks, the vinyl holds the glass in place rather than allowing the shards to fall into the car and cut the occupants.

The windshield is a layer of protection that “keeps you inside the car and things out of the car,” Beck says. “This is not the place to cut corners on and go with the cheapest price.”

Steve Mazor, the Auto Club of Southern California’s chief automotive engineer, adds that if the windshield isn’t strong enough and an occupant is thrown from a speeding car, “the odds of survival are much less.” Thirty percent of all fatalities, he says, are due to people being ejected from the car.

An investigation by the ABC News program 20/20 on windshield safety shows technicians incorrectly installing windshields by not wearing gloves. The grease from their hands prevents the adhesives from bonding correctly, Beck explains. Another error that 20/20 caught was technicians failing to use all the necessary bonding agents, such as primer.

When you are looking for a good windshield installer, Levy recommends calling three shops and asking a few qualifying questions beyond just price and certification.

Levy says to ask the shops if they use original equipment glass, which is usually of higher quality and fits better. Also, she suggested asking how long the car should sit after the installation is complete. “If they say you can take the car right away, you should run in the opposite direction,” Levy says. A car should sit at least one hour before being driven and sometimes up to 12 hours, she says.

Beck says if you take your car to a dealership for a windshield replacement, it will just subcontract the job to a glass shop and then mark up the price about 30 percent. He recommends going directly to the glass shop to save money. However, when a car is new, the dealership might be the only place to stock the glass, as was the case for a 2011 Infiniti M56 Edmunds long-term test car where the windshield replacement cost $1,300.

Most windshield installation jobs take only about an hour and can be done at your home or office, Beck says. Once the installer is finished, check for signs that the job was completed correctly. Make sure the molding is straight and that there is no sign of adhesives visible inside the car, Beck says. The car should be clean inside. Debris or dirt left in your car could be the sign of sloppy workmanship, he says.

In some cases, a rock chip or star in the windshield can be repaired, saving you the cost of a new windshield. Mazor says some installers claim that cracks can be repaired even if they’re up to 15 inches long, but only if they intersect just one edge of the windshield.

Beck says rock chips, which he also fixes, are easier to repair when the damage has just occurred. Over time, rain washes dirt into the crack, making it harder to seal. He suggests carrying a roll of clear tape in the glove compartment to quickly cover a crack until it can be fixed.

Beck injects polymer into rock chips and cracks. After the polymer cures, he smoothes the area so it doesn’t affect the travel of the windshield wipers. Beck says that if he gets to the repair within a week of the damage, he can generally make it disappear. Windshield Express’ owner, Bryan Petersen says his rate for rock chip repairs is $29.95 for mobile jobs and $19.95 in the shop.

In the Los Angeles area, the rates for windshield repairs are higher in the range of $65. Windshield repair kits are available at automotive stores for the do-it-yourselfer, but they don’t do the job as well as the professionals can do it. The pros have better equipment and much more experience.

The Auto Glass Safety Council’s Levy says studies show that windshield rock chips or cracks that are in your field of vision can actually slow your response to emergency traffic situations. She also says that old windshields that are pitted or hazed should be replaced even if they are not broken since they can magnify the glare of the headlights from oncoming cars at night.

Mazor says that a new windshield might be cheaper than you would think. In many cases, windshield repair is covered by car insurance (under your comprehensive coverage not collision). The deductible for comprehensive coverage is sometimes only $50 or $100, so that would be the cost of a new windshield.

Laguna Niguel

Over one-third of Laguna Niguel is designated as open space. This significant amount of open space is one of the key features defining the character and urban form of the City. The City has 2 community parks, 23 neighborhood parks, 3 mini-parks, 1 dog park, 2 county regional parks, 2 small county parks and the new Laguna Niguel Skate Soccer Park.

Laguna Niguel Electrician Berk s Electrical and Lighting

Electrician in Laguna Niguel, California to serve you with personal, friendly, reliable, experienced and lasting service for electrical repairs, installs, and upgrades. Call us at (714) 744-4300 or (949) 857-8385.

Berk s Electrical and Lighting is a full service electrical contracting company that has been providing electrical contracting for exterior, interior and landscape lighting, retrofits, service installations, new construction, renovations. tenant improvements, service upgrades and repair since the early seventies. Working on designs from start to end with his qualified team of project consultants and technicians Berk s Electrical and Lighting provides the necessary confidence any client needs to get their project finished on time, on budget and to code. Anyone knows that professional interruptions can cause inefficiencies that have a sudden impact on project costs, that s why Berk s Electrical and Lighting focuses on getting electricity restored into your system in the fastest and safest manner possible. It goes without saying that this is at the minimum risk to any valuable or data sensitive equipment.

Our professional Laguna Niguel electricians can come to your Laguna Niguel home and diagnose any problem you may be having. Our trucks are fully stocked to ensure that we have the right tools and materials to ensure the best service for your home. We will do all your electrical work personally to guarantee an excellent job for you. All the electrical materials we install for your project will be the finest that are available.

Quality electrical work depends on consistency and uniformity. That is why there is an electrical code, so everyone is clear on the correct and incorrect way to perform an electrical repair or installation! As a professional electrician, you can depend on Berk s Electrical and Lighting for an electrical repair that will last!

Laguna Niguel Residential Electrical Repairs

Our professional Laguna Niguel electricians can come to your Laguna Niguel home and diagnose any problem you may be having. Our trucks are fully stocked to ensure that we have the right tools and materials to ensure the best service for your home. We will do all your electrical work personally to guarantee an excellent job for you. All the electrical materials we install for your project will be the finest that are available.

Laguna Niguel Commercial Electrical Repairs

Any Commercial building or place of business can use a wide range of Laguna Niguel electrical services, whether it is maintenance or installation. Dedicated circuits to avoid overloading of the circuits and circuit breakers. Energy saving lighting both inside the building as well as outside. Proper voltages to the machines and equipment ensures a longer running time with less problems.

Parking garages and outside parking lots should always have sufficient energy saving lighting. One Laguna Niguel commercial electrical service is if the light fixture does not have energy saving lamps and ballasts, electricians can retrofit the light fixtures making them energy efficient which will lower electricity bills and save electricity.

Compressors are the most expensive component in an A/c, but even still they are not that expensive. A 3-3 1/2 ton, 12 SEER compressor costs a repair person [who buys wholesale] about $350-$450 (typical 3 ton COPELAND compressor used by most AC units). You often replace the dryer on the unit too (the big round tube soldered in on the line), that’s another $50-$80, and usually the thing that causes your compressor to go bad is the condensor fan is not cooling the unit properly. that’s another $50 – $100.

The controller boards and caps usually aren’t replaced during a compressor replacement, but the sales person will talk you into it. Don’t do it until they can prove those components are bad.

I’m not an HVAC person but I have replaced my own compressor, fans, caps, etc. The compressor requires freon which means you’ll be REQUIRED to get a qualified HVAC guy to cycle your lines (3 times) after the compressor is installed.

Installing a compressor yourself:

Buy the same brand compressor, makes life a lot easier with the wiring and copper tube connections.

Use MAP gas and 50% silver solder, do not use flux. The soldering technique is the same for copper water pipes, no different.

Total cost to replacement pump, fan, and drier: $723. Average cost of a quote I received: $1900. THe unit cost $2600 and is 7 years old. Stupid, huh? If you want a higher SEER A/c, simple. SEER is rated at the PUMP, not the coil. so, install a better pump with a higher SEER! Ta-da.

Best tip anyone can give you when it comes to an A/c unit: Change your condensor fan every 5 years no matter what. They are cheap motors and take about 30 minute to install. You can also just take them apart and clean the insides. all of them are brushless, they tend to go bad because dust and grim get in them. 4 screws hold it together, remove them, pull the spindle out, wipe it off, put a little grease on it, put back together. you’re good for another 5 years. If you can pump gas in your car, you can replace the condenser motor AND replace the capacitors. they are, in reality, no brainers.

I have been in the industry for more than 15 years on the Gulf coast and i totally disagree. Not just anyone can replace a compressor. First how do you know it’s the compressor? Second, what caused the failure? Was it a burnout? Why would I need to know if it was a burnout? What must I do if it was a burnout? Not to mention the possibility of electrocuting yourself. Next you use 15% silver solder not 50%. What are the dangers of soldering? What happens with oil residue in the refrigerant lines? What happens when flame is introduced to freon and freon residue in the lines? Ever heard of phosgene gas? What about the Oxygen Depletion Potential of freon? You know suffocating? What about how inhaling freon causes heart arrhythmia? Frost bite? What about refrigerant recovery and disposal? What about evacuating the system? A/C systems, are very susceptible to moisture and other non condensibles. Next freon. What type? How are you going to purchase replacement freon with no EPA certification? What about the life threatening dangers of freon? How much freon do you add? You just can’t go by the factory charge on the nameplate. You have to take into account many factors and then calculate your super heat and subcooling in order to achieve a proper charge. There are so many things to consider before trying to tackle something like this. If injury or death doesn’t deter you, then the fact that you did it yourself will probably void any warranty that come with your $1000 compressor should. I can look up how to do an appendectomy online and get step by step instructions but I’m pretty sure most people would agree to just get someone who has been properly schooled and trained to do it. This is not like changing a fuse or the oil in your car. You could die or even possibly kill someone else many different ways if you don’t know what you are doing and I would never recommend a compressor change out as a DIY project for a novice.

Originally Posted by ByteRider

A The compressor requires freon which means you’ll be REQUIRED to get a qualified HVAC guy to cycle your lines (3 times) after the compressor is installed.

Actually a license is only required if your system uses R22 freon, which of course most old systems do. If you have or are replacing with system with a R410-A refrigerant, no license is required. So long as your not touching a R22 system, your fine. If your replacing a R22 system with a R410-A system you need a licensed HVAC contractor to recover the R22 refrigerant from the old system before removing it.

Originally Posted by ComfortZone1971

Not to mention the possibility of electrocuting yourself.

If you haven’t mastered the mysteries of the circuit broker or equipment disconnect, you probably shouldn’t be doing anything yourself.

Originally Posted by ComfortZone1971

If injury or death doesn’t deter you, then the fact that you did it yourself will probably void any warranty that come with your $1000 compressor should.

Pretty much anything you touch now a days voids the warranty. I wouldn’t mass with the R22, but I wouldn’t let a little thing like voiding the warranty stop me from working on it.

Replacing Copper Pipes Cost

Copper pipes have long been considered the best option for residential water supply lines because they resist corrosion, have a long life expectancy (about 40-50 years) and can be bent or curved relatively easily. However, in areas with an acidic water supply copper pipes have developed contamination (bitter-tasting water) and pinhole leaks [1 ]. and must be replaced. Typically the house is re-plumbed with plastic pipes or the water is treated to make it less acidic and then the house is re-plumbed with copper. Usually the new pipes will be installed first, the water supply transferred to the new system and then the old pipes will be drained and abandoned in place.

Re-piping a house can cost $1,500-$15,000 or more. Re-piping costs are typically based on the number of fixtures, with each sink, bathtub, shower, toilet, dishwasher, water heater, etc. counting as one fixture. Total costs also depend on the size of the house, if the holes in the walls and ceilings are repaired and repainted or just left open, whether it’s one story or two, and ease of access (basement, crawlspace or slab foundation).

Re-piping a house with plastic pipes — either PEX (flexible plastic tubing made of cross-link polyethylene) or PVC-CPVC (rigid plastic pipes made of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) — typically costs $1,500 -$8,000 or more, depending on the number of fixtures. Re-piping a small 1-bathroom home with plastic pipes might cost $1,500 -$2,500. and a typical 3-bedroom, 2-1/2-bathroom, two-story home might cost $3,000 -$7,000 or more. Although there are some regional differences — PEX tends to be more common in the West and Southwest, CPVC in the East — in many areas one plumber may prefer PEX and another CPVC.

If a home has acidic water, a water treatment [2 ] system to restore the correct pH balance (before installing new copper pipes) can cost $600-$2,000. Re-plumbing with copper pipes can cost $2,500-$15,000 or more, depending on the number of fixtures and the ease of access — and prices may vary significantly over time depending on the price of copper [3 ]. For example, Pete Rodriguez of Atlantic Re-Plumbing [4 ] in Virginia says costs for re-plumbing a 2-1/2-bathroom house with 12-13 fixtures would start at about $4,500, and could cost more. At Repipe1 in California, Danny Zilberberg says re-piping a 2-bathroom house would cost more than $5,000 with copper pipes.

Most experts do not recommend re-piping a house as a do-it-yourself project because a single error can result in an expensive and damaging leak. However, for DIY replacement of small sections, building supply stores sell 10′ lengths of 1/2″- to 1″-diameter hard copper pipe for about $10-$60 or more.

Copper pipes come in two types, rigid or flexible, and three classifications — Type M is thin walled, Type L (for most residential plumbing applications) is medium walled and commercial-grade Type K is thick-walled. Flexible copper tubing is typically used for short projects, like leading up to a water heater or for cold water supply in tight spots. Rigid copper pipe is typically used to distribute the water supply.

A contractor will typically inspect the house before submitting a bid. Re-piping a house takes 1-5 working days and can require cutting 8-20 or more holes in the walls and ceilings. Usually the water will be turned back on each evening and the homeowners will be able to stay in the house during the re-plumbing. Copper typically takes longer and/or more workers to install than PEX or CPVC pipes. For example, Repipe1 in California typically schedules one day for any re-plumbing project, but uses a three-member crew to install PEX and a five-member or larger crew for copper pipes.

Additional costs:

A permit from the local planning or building department is typically required. The city of Hercules, CA, posts its re-piping inspection checklist [5 ] describing common code violations in re-plumbing projects. Permit fees vary, but typically cost $70-$400. This may be included in a contractor’s bid or be an additional charge. The contractor may also charge $50-$150 to be present during required inspections by the local building or planning department.

Shopping for replacing copper pipes:

Prices can vary significantly, so get several estimates and ask about re-plumbing experience. Homewownernet.com explains how to hire a plumber [6 ] and ProToolReviews.com lists tips for choosing between CPVC, PEX and copper pipes [7 ] .

Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations, or search for local plumbing contractors through the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association [8 ]. Make sure the company is properly bonded, insured and licensed [9 ] ; ask for and check references; and look for complaints with the Better Business Bureau [10 ] .

A written contract should include a detailed outline of the work required and materials to be used, whether the company will be doing the work or subcontracting any of the project, and the dates within which the project will be done.

Number of Stories: 2

Bought a foreclosured home from the bank, replace all water lines, hot and cold to the entire apartment on both floors. Replace drain lines to bathroom and kitchen main stack install 2 new hot water tanks and tie them in and install new cut off valves on all the sinks. Hook up for the washer in the basement. With a turnaround of 4 to 5 days with all copper and water supplies included The water company would not turn the water on because, the line was cut from the water tank, the lines to the kitchen sink, tubs and toilet was cut, they took copper out the walls in the bathroom, The sewer line busted.

A digital signature (ID). like a conventional handwritten signature, identifies the person signing a document. Unlike a handwritten signature, a digital signature is difficult to forge because it contains encrypted information that is unique to the signer and easily verified. It is usually password protected and can be stored on your computer in PKCS #12 file format (Personal Information Exchange File, PFX).

When you buy a new digital signature, you get .spc file that contains the certificate and .pvk file that contains your private keys. U se Microsoft command-line tool Pvk2Pfx to convert them into a PFX file. See detail here.

The following command generates the .pfx file Mypfxfile.pfx from Mypvkfile.pvk and Myspcfile.spc. The command supplies the password mypassword for the .pvk file, which becomes the password for the .pfx file Mypfxfile.pfx:

Air Conditioning

AC Stop Leak Plus tm

Our unique additive oils lubricate all moving metal parts in the AC system, while revitalizing O-Ring elasticity. More remarkably though, our added patented Micro Particulate Solids seal hard to find leaks in evaporators, condensers, hoses and other difficult to repair AC components. Don’t spend hundred or even thousands to replace expensive parts only to find out you missed a small pin hole elsewhere and now all the new gas has leaked out.

AC Stop Leak Plus can be use as a Tune-Up Conditioner during a refrigerant top-off when components are in overall good shape, or as a complete system rejuvenator when gas and oil are added during a major repair or service.

Programs are available for all levels of distribution to professional technicians, from single cases for automotive applications to gallon containers for HVAC commercial use. We even offer the specialized tools needed for installation, simply scroll down the page to learn more about them.

For those of you wondering, GWR Stop Leak Plus is not activated by air, moisture or refrigerant gas like the common products found at the Auto Parts store or HVAC supply houses!

It is not polymer based and will not harden. It simply remains as a base oil in the system after installation and never converts like the problem type sealants .

If a sealer comes in a pressurized metal can, don’t use it! Period!

They all set by moisture or refrigerant contact and that means they will clog a system and or recycling machine once they touch air inside the unit. Watch out for the words Inert , Activated , Forms a Chemical Weld these are the dead give away it is a polymer!

But what about the little plastic bottles I’m beginning to see on the internet, aren’t they the same as yours?

These are the Johnny come lately copies of our Patented AC Stop Leak Plus! Ones that look like liquid (red, yellow, etc) are mineral oil based and have zero solids (seal swellers type), or they contain powdered calcium or silicate solids that stick together and form large blobs of floating debris in a system. As you may be able to visualize, neither idea is good! They will either weaken rubber parts, have no effect at all, or the larger particles will clog the filters, orifices, capillary tubes and other parts of the AC System.

GWR’s SLP is not like all the others that claim to seal A/C leaks.

We do not react to moisture and therefore do not need to come in a sealed, pressurized can like the others. It’s interesting that those formulas are so volatile they sometimes even harden in the delivery tube attached to the can, while you’re trying to install them. On the other hand, GWR’s SLP will not clog installation equipment or the recycling machines needed to remove gasses from systems being serviced. Take a look at this picture and you will see why the products in pressurized cans are not only a problem for a recycling machine but also the system itself.

This end view picture of a solenoid valve from an evacuation machine, really demonstrates the problem! Notice the hardened particles of a typical polymer stop leak product. These granular particulate float around in the system until they attach to a part or get trapped in a filter or expansion valve. When that happens, system efficiency is reduced or even stopped. Worse, another repair is required to remove the bad sealer and the parts that have been damaged. Don’t fall for the millions spent on marketing the polymer based products! They are sold by monster companies only interested in their bottom line. not yours.

How GWR’s SLP is different and why it works.

Three elements are necessary for GWR’s Stop Leak Plus to work. the Refrigerant, the system pressure and high velocity flow / movement. These actions are the carrier that deliver our unique proprietary Micro Particulate Solids to the point of a leak or leaks. When corrosion occurs small pin holes begins to open up in all systems, its just a matter of time. Whether pre-existing or even in the future, refrigerant and some oil escapes through those hole at a rapid rate of speed. This flow creates a spiraling venturi action that pulls in some of the Stop Leak Plus particulates that are circulating through the system. When our escaping molecules bombard the ragged edges of the hole they begin to attach to the area and each other, eventually forming a seal or patch. Of great importance, in contrast to competitors, our Stop Leak Plus particles were formulated to stay flexible and pliable after a seal is created. They will remain secure through years of on and off temperature cycles and vibrations in an HVAC system or automotive vehicle.

Simply stated. This is the finest Air Conditioning Stop Leak product on the market! It’s sold worldwide!

Katy Garage Doors Service

Garage Door Service in Katy, TX

The team at Katy Garage Doors has become known as the best around for garage door repair and installation. Katy, Texas is a good spot to be if you need reliable and affordable garage door repair solutions. We do it all, from spring repair and track replacement to overhead garage door repair and cable replacement.

Have a look at what we offer:

motor repair

wood garage door installation

garage door spring repair replacement

custom garage door installation

sensor replacement

garage door panels or sections replaced

25-point safety inspection

garage door repair replacement

garage door torsion spring repair

garage door opener repair and installation

Brands that we are happy to use because they create great products include:

Repair or Replace Your Windshield the Right Way

1 of 3

When faced with replacing a windshield, many car owners default to the lowest-price option. But if you take this route and are in a serious accident, your decision could cost you your life.

An incorrectly installed windshield could pop out in an accident, allowing the roof to cave in and crush the car’s occupants. Furthermore, when the front airbags deploy, they exert a tremendous force on the windshield and will blow out one that is not firmly glued in place.

“There are a lot of schlock operators” installing windshields, says Debra Levy, president of the Auto Glass Safety Council, which offers certification for installers. She says using original manufacturer’s glass is a plus, but choosing a good installer is even more important. To find a certified shop, visit Safewindshields.org and type your ZIP code into the box at the top of the page. Certification is valuable because it keeps installers up to date on advances in adhesives and changing automotive designs.

David Beck, one of two technicians at Windshield Express. near Salt Lake City, installs eight windshields a day and has been working in the auto glass business for 18 years. Beck agrees that certification is important and warns that there are many “tailgaters” installers with no brick-and-mortar shop who quickly “slam” windshields into cars with little regard for safety. They don’t handle the windshield correctly, don’t use the proper adhesives and leave the car unsafe for driving and prone to rusting and leaks.

“The thing I wish that drivers knew was that the windshield is the No. 1 safety restraint in your vehicle,” Beck says. The windshield is two sheets of glass held together by an inner layer of strong vinyl. When the windshield breaks, the vinyl holds the glass in place rather than allowing the shards to fall into the car and cut the occupants.

The windshield is a layer of protection that “keeps you inside the car and things out of the car,” Beck says. “This is not the place to cut corners on and go with the cheapest price.”

Steve Mazor, the Auto Club of Southern California’s chief automotive engineer, adds that if the windshield isn’t strong enough and an occupant is thrown from a speeding car, “the odds of survival are much less.” Thirty percent of all fatalities, he says, are due to people being ejected from the car.

An investigation by the ABC News program 20/20 on windshield safety shows technicians incorrectly installing windshields by not wearing gloves. The grease from their hands prevents the adhesives from bonding correctly, Beck explains. Another error that 20/20 caught was technicians failing to use all the necessary bonding agents, such as primer.

When you are looking for a good windshield installer, Levy recommends calling three shops and asking a few qualifying questions beyond just price and certification.

Levy says to ask the shops if they use original equipment glass, which is usually of higher quality and fits better. Also, she suggested asking how long the car should sit after the installation is complete. “If they say you can take the car right away, you should run in the opposite direction,” Levy says. A car should sit at least one hour before being driven and sometimes up to 12 hours, she says.

Beck says if you take your car to a dealership for a windshield replacement, it will just subcontract the job to a glass shop and then mark up the price about 30 percent. He recommends going directly to the glass shop to save money. However, when a car is new, the dealership might be the only place to stock the glass, as was the case for a 2011 Infiniti M56 Edmunds long-term test car where the windshield replacement cost $1,300.

Most windshield installation jobs take only about an hour and can be done at your home or office, Beck says. Once the installer is finished, check for signs that the job was completed correctly. Make sure the molding is straight and that there is no sign of adhesives visible inside the car, Beck says. The car should be clean inside. Debris or dirt left in your car could be the sign of sloppy workmanship, he says.

In some cases, a rock chip or star in the windshield can be repaired, saving you the cost of a new windshield. Mazor says some installers claim that cracks can be repaired even if they’re up to 15 inches long, but only if they intersect just one edge of the windshield.

Beck says rock chips, which he also fixes, are easier to repair when the damage has just occurred. Over time, rain washes dirt into the crack, making it harder to seal. He suggests carrying a roll of clear tape in the glove compartment to quickly cover a crack until it can be fixed.

Beck injects polymer into rock chips and cracks. After the polymer cures, he smoothes the area so it doesn’t affect the travel of the windshield wipers. Beck says that if he gets to the repair within a week of the damage, he can generally make it disappear. Windshield Express’ owner, Bryan Petersen says his rate for rock chip repairs is $29.95 for mobile jobs and $19.95 in the shop.

In the Los Angeles area, the rates for windshield repairs are higher in the range of $65. Windshield repair kits are available at automotive stores for the do-it-yourselfer, but they don’t do the job as well as the professionals can do it. The pros have better equipment and much more experience.

The Auto Glass Safety Council’s Levy says studies show that windshield rock chips or cracks that are in your field of vision can actually slow your response to emergency traffic situations. She also says that old windshields that are pitted or hazed should be replaced even if they are not broken since they can magnify the glare of the headlights from oncoming cars at night.

Mazor says that a new windshield might be cheaper than you would think. In many cases, windshield repair is covered by car insurance (under your comprehensive coverage not collision). The deductible for comprehensive coverage is sometimes only $50 or $100, so that would be the cost of a new windshield.

Car Starter

See how to replace auto starters with this step-by-step guide.

Most of the time your starter or solenoid, the switch that supplies the high electrical current to the starter, will give you advance notice that it is time to be replaced. The tell-tale warning signs are slow engine cranking, a starter that takes several attempts with the key to engage, or a clashing sound as the starter engages. If you ignore these signs, you may be stranded at the worst possible time.

Advance Auto Parts has a full-line of replacement solenoids and car starters including high-torque models for tough-starting conditions, along with plenty of other quality auto parts.

When to change your car starter and starter solenoid:

Some auto starters have solenoids that are attached to the starter, while others have solenoids located in a remote location. Solenoids that are attached to the starter should always be replaced with the starter. Remote solenoids should also be replaced when the starter is replaced.

If the solenoid is receiving full power from the ignition switch, but doesn t click when you turn the key, then the solenoid needs replacing. Car starters that crank slowly, won t crank at all or fail to engage need to be replaced.

What equipment you ll need to change a car starter and starter solenoid:

Save money by changing your own car starter starter solenoid. Here s how to do it.

The average do-it-yourselfer can change a starter and solenoid and save a hefty repair bill. Get a repair manual dedicated to your vehicle before attempting this repair.

If you encounter a starting problem, clean the battery terminals, then check your battery to make sure you are getting full power to the starter. (See the car battery replacement article for more information.)

Disconnect the negative cable from your battery and make sure that the cable is secured away from the battery.

Remove the starter retaining bolts and lower the starter to gain access to the solenoid wiring. Note the location of the starter shims if so equipped.

Remove the wires from the starter or solenoid and mark them with tape and numbers. The large positive battery cable fits only one terminal.

Some car starters like this early Ford use remote solenoids located on the firewall or fender well. They are easily accessible to check whether the solenoid or starter is bad.

Install a new starter with original bolts. Reattach the wires to the starter solenoid. Make sure that the wire connectors are not touching each other and are tight.

Connect the negative battery cable and test starter by quickly turning the ignition key and releasing it. If the starter cranks the engine and releases, you re done.

Head to Advance Auto Parts for quality auto parts on all your vehicle maintenance jobs like changing a car starter and starter solenoid.

Repair or Replace Your Windshield the Right Way

1 of 3

When faced with replacing a windshield, many car owners default to the lowest-price option. But if you take this route and are in a serious accident, your decision could cost you your life.

An incorrectly installed windshield could pop out in an accident, allowing the roof to cave in and crush the car’s occupants. Furthermore, when the front airbags deploy, they exert a tremendous force on the windshield and will blow out one that is not firmly glued in place.

“There are a lot of schlock operators” installing windshields, says Debra Levy, president of the Auto Glass Safety Council, which offers certification for installers. She says using original manufacturer’s glass is a plus, but choosing a good installer is even more important. To find a certified shop, visit Safewindshields.org and type your ZIP code into the box at the top of the page. Certification is valuable because it keeps installers up to date on advances in adhesives and changing automotive designs.

David Beck, one of two technicians at Windshield Express. near Salt Lake City, installs eight windshields a day and has been working in the auto glass business for 18 years. Beck agrees that certification is important and warns that there are many “tailgaters” installers with no brick-and-mortar shop who quickly “slam” windshields into cars with little regard for safety. They don’t handle the windshield correctly, don’t use the proper adhesives and leave the car unsafe for driving and prone to rusting and leaks.

“The thing I wish that drivers knew was that the windshield is the No. 1 safety restraint in your vehicle,” Beck says. The windshield is two sheets of glass held together by an inner layer of strong vinyl. When the windshield breaks, the vinyl holds the glass in place rather than allowing the shards to fall into the car and cut the occupants.

The windshield is a layer of protection that “keeps you inside the car and things out of the car,” Beck says. “This is not the place to cut corners on and go with the cheapest price.”

Steve Mazor, the Auto Club of Southern California’s chief automotive engineer, adds that if the windshield isn’t strong enough and an occupant is thrown from a speeding car, “the odds of survival are much less.” Thirty percent of all fatalities, he says, are due to people being ejected from the car.

An investigation by the ABC News program 20/20 on windshield safety shows technicians incorrectly installing windshields by not wearing gloves. The grease from their hands prevents the adhesives from bonding correctly, Beck explains. Another error that 20/20 caught was technicians failing to use all the necessary bonding agents, such as primer.

When you are looking for a good windshield installer, Levy recommends calling three shops and asking a few qualifying questions beyond just price and certification.

Levy says to ask the shops if they use original equipment glass, which is usually of higher quality and fits better. Also, she suggested asking how long the car should sit after the installation is complete. “If they say you can take the car right away, you should run in the opposite direction,” Levy says. A car should sit at least one hour before being driven and sometimes up to 12 hours, she says.

Beck says if you take your car to a dealership for a windshield replacement, it will just subcontract the job to a glass shop and then mark up the price about 30 percent. He recommends going directly to the glass shop to save money. However, when a car is new, the dealership might be the only place to stock the glass, as was the case for a 2011 Infiniti M56 Edmunds long-term test car where the windshield replacement cost $1,300.

Most windshield installation jobs take only about an hour and can be done at your home or office, Beck says. Once the installer is finished, check for signs that the job was completed correctly. Make sure the molding is straight and that there is no sign of adhesives visible inside the car, Beck says. The car should be clean inside. Debris or dirt left in your car could be the sign of sloppy workmanship, he says.

In some cases, a rock chip or star in the windshield can be repaired, saving you the cost of a new windshield. Mazor says some installers claim that cracks can be repaired even if they’re up to 15 inches long, but only if they intersect just one edge of the windshield.

Beck says rock chips, which he also fixes, are easier to repair when the damage has just occurred. Over time, rain washes dirt into the crack, making it harder to seal. He suggests carrying a roll of clear tape in the glove compartment to quickly cover a crack until it can be fixed.

Beck injects polymer into rock chips and cracks. After the polymer cures, he smoothes the area so it doesn’t affect the travel of the windshield wipers. Beck says that if he gets to the repair within a week of the damage, he can generally make it disappear. Windshield Express’ owner, Bryan Petersen says his rate for rock chip repairs is $29.95 for mobile jobs and $19.95 in the shop.

In the Los Angeles area, the rates for windshield repairs are higher in the range of $65. Windshield repair kits are available at automotive stores for the do-it-yourselfer, but they don’t do the job as well as the professionals can do it. The pros have better equipment and much more experience.

The Auto Glass Safety Council’s Levy says studies show that windshield rock chips or cracks that are in your field of vision can actually slow your response to emergency traffic situations. She also says that old windshields that are pitted or hazed should be replaced even if they are not broken since they can magnify the glare of the headlights from oncoming cars at night.

Mazor says that a new windshield might be cheaper than you would think. In many cases, windshield repair is covered by car insurance (under your comprehensive coverage not collision). The deductible for comprehensive coverage is sometimes only $50 or $100, so that would be the cost of a new windshield.